A South Korean R&B combo that was determined via a television documentary series as to who and how many would be in the group,
Big Bang was the brainchild of management and production group the YG Entertainment Group. The members -- for the most part -- had had experience in the pop music world -- members
G-Dragon and Tae Yang were signed to YG at the age of 12 and had been performing together for some time, for example -- had to vie for the final five spots of
Big Bang during an 11-part television show that made its debut in 2006. After the series, the roster was determined --
G-Dragon, Tae Yang, T.O.P., Dae Sung, and Seung Ri -- and the group released a series of singles in 2006, which were then followed by an album, Big Bang, Vol. 1- Since 2007, in December of that year. 2007 and 2008 saw the group expand their performance schedule to include a national tour, release a live album (1st Concert -- Live Album), and a series of three EPs, entitled Always (released August of 2007), Hot Issue (out in November of 2007), and For the World (released January 2008). ~ Chris True, All Music Guide